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First Lady Chirlane McCray Hosts City's First Weekend of Faith for Domestic Violence

February 9, 2018

Diverse faith leaders from across the five boroughs will learn about the complexities of domestic violence to be better equipped to respond to the unique needs of their congregations

“Just as we enlisted our faith communities to speak with their congregations about mental illness and substance abuse, we are enlisting them as partners in our work to shatter the stigma around domestic violence.” - First Lady Chirlane McCray

NEW YORK—On February 9, 10 and 11, First Lady McCray will spearhead “Faith in Action Against Domestic Violence,” the first weekend-long event in New York City dedicated to raising awareness about intimate partner violence within the faith community. The event will engage faith leaders of diverse cultures and traditions, with over 500 houses of worship participating across the City. Led by the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence and the Mayor’s Center for Faith and Community Partnerships, the weekend events aim to strengthen community engagement between faith leaders and their congregations, and ensure that people are educated about the City resources available to individuals experiencing domestic violence.

Yesterday, First Lady McCray announced the launch of New York City's first-ever, web-based portal, NYCHOPE, dedicated to providing resources to survivors and information to all City residents about how to help someone experiencing domestic violence. The City also unveiled its first domestic violence awareness campaign in more than a decade, "We Understand," that shares diverse testimonials from survivors of intimate partner violence.

Last year, First Lady McCray hosted the second annual Weekend of Faith for Mental Health in New York City, where 2,000 houses of worship devoted their services to the issue of substance use, reaching a half of a million New Yorkers and more than 40 cities nationwide.

First Lady Chirlane McCray’s Schedule

All services are open press, with some exceptions atthe Congregation Beth Elohim on Friday.

Members of the press are asked to follow guidelines established by the congregation. This includes not speaking with congregants during the service, notetaking and wearing appropriate attire. Still and video cameras and other electronic devices are not permitted.